Lind’s face had always appeared open and honest, but at the moment, Robin could only see a forced innocence hiding behind a mask of naivete.
“The ruse is up,” Robin stated, getting directly to the point. “It’s time to switch back.”
Lind’s eyes went wide, then soft. “Oh please, Lady Robin, let’s not switch back until after the feast. I’ve been ever so looking forward to it. You know I have!”
Robin paused.
Lind’s begging eyes turned hopeful, but her mask cracked when the corner of her mouth tilted up in a small triumphant smile.
“The ruse is up,” Robin repeated. “I’ve known you a long time, Lind. You’re only satisfied when you have the best.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lind simpered, looking away.
“I’m talking about the crown prince.”
At the mention of the prince, her eyes shot back to Robin.
“It’s up. We are switching tonight.” Robin took a step forward.
Lind backed toward the door. “No. I’m not done yet. He’s so much kinder to me than any of his brothers. You’ve always had everything and now it’s my turn! I won’t let you ruin this for me!” Though quiet, Lind’s voice was angry and insistent.
“I have done everything in my power to ensure you had every comfort I had access to. But this is going too far. You are only in it for the cakes and clothing, but as the king’s ward, I can help the people of Lockwood—including your family—in an entirely new way.”
“I don’t care about them!” Lind spat, hunching her shoulders like a cornered animal.
“I do,” Robin replied. “This ends. Tonight.”
“Take another step toward me and you’ll regret it,” Lind snarled, her voice menacing and her face twisted.
“You have nothing to hold over me!” Robin replied, not threatened in the least.
“I’ll call the guards.”
“There are no guards in the family wing.”
Lind raised her eyebrows. “Oh, that changed after the other night when you tried to sneak in to see me.”
“Then I’ll explain to them who I really am.” Robin shrugged.
Lind opened the door. “Guard! Ohh! Come quick!!”
“Curses.” Robin sucked in a breath as a heavy set of footsteps sounded in the hall outside.
“Who will they believe?” Lind smirked. “Lady Robin Lockwood or the goose girl in the dungeon?”
Robin jumped through the open window, nimbly escaping the way she had come in.
She remembered too late that she had forgotten to warn Lind about the spider, but she did not feel the least bit guilty for it.
Chapter 13
Robin went to the stable early the following morning. She planned to find Prince Ian as soon as possible and tell him the whole truth. Hopefully, he trusted her enough to listen to her side of the story.
She realized with a wry smile that she expected the crown prince to be just. Remembering Lind’s earlier teasing about how the king was expected to betroth his oldest son with his ward, the wry smile turned into a blush.
Ian’s serious demeanor was growing on her, as well as the way he viewed his responsibility with such weight. He would make a good king someday, with a little guidance.
“Fancy a ride today, ol’ Humph?” she asked, pushing open the swinging gate to her donkey’s stall. “Or are you too spoiled on the king’s best straw to earn your own keep?”
